Latest news with #WalksScheme
Irish Independent
25-05-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Landowners asked to maintain Wexford walking trails as minister announces four new additions to national scheme
Overall, a total of four trails in Co Wexford are to be added to the scheme with the Rosslare Harbour Cliff Walk, the Jean Kennedy Smith Trail in Oulart, the Urrin Riverside Trail in Enniscorthy, and the Ringwood Trail in Kilcarbry chosen by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary. The trails will be administered by Wexford Local Development (WLD) who will deliver the scheme on behalf of the minister. This will entail WLD identifying the landowners along the trail and developing workplans for each of them which will set out the work involved in maintaining their section of the trail. The addition of the 22 new trails announced today will being to 164 the number of trails with approval in principle to join the Walks Scheme. 'We are very fortunate to have wonderful walking trails all across the country and to have generous landowners who are willing to allow the public access to trails that cross their lands,' said Minister Calleary. 'My department is committed to supporting the development, maintenance and promotion of recreational infrastructure in line with the aims of 'Embracing Ireland's Outdoors,' Irelands national outdoor recreation strategy. 'I want to thank the land owners in particular, for providing these opportunities. There is no doubting the health and wellbeing benefits provided by these trails, and the economic impact they can also provide by driving visitor numbers to rural Ireland.'
Agriland
21-05-2025
- General
- Agriland
Call for support for farmers after land destroyed by gorse fires
A Fine Gael senator has raised incidents of gorse fires in Roscommon in the Seanad this week and has called for support for those who have suffered financial losses. Senator Gareth Scahill from the Roscommon-Galway constituency raised the matter following a weekend of wild fires around the Gortaganny area of west Roscommon. Fire crews from Roscommon, with support from fire crews in neighbouring Mayo and an air support helicopter, tackled the blaze for 36 hours in the townlands of Gortaganny, Granlahan, and surrounding areas. It is believed thousands of hectares of forestry and bog have been destroyed as a result. Roscommon County Council posted a message warning the public to be careful as the fire spread. 'We urge members of the public to exercise extreme caution following an extensive fire outbreak in the west Roscommon area at the weekend,' the council stated. Image: Roscommon County Council X 'Residents in the area please close windows and doors to avoid smoke. Avoid affected areas to allow emergency services continue their work.' Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Scahill said: 'I'd like to compliment the local fire service for their response, the support of the fire services from neighbouring counties, the air support for the helicopters providing water and for getting the actual fire under control over 36 hours. 'There are a number of landowners down there now who have lost significantly in relation to forestry and in relation to pension opportunities that they had; some farmers up to 100,000 [euro] in damages. 'On Friday last, the Cahir Gortaganny area was one of the new walks accepted onto the national Walks Scheme that was part of a national announcement and over the weekend that special area of conservation [SPC] was significantly damaged during the spread of these wild gorse fires,' he added. The senator stressed that he would like the heritage minister, Christopher O'Sullivan to adress the Seanad about supporting the landowners in the special areas of conservation. He outlined that community groups in the area have worked voluntarily for years to develop and maintain the SPCs and to have all that work destroyed over last weekend has been devastating. Responding in the Seanad on behalf of the government, Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Seán Kyne said: 'I would like to commend all the fire fighters and first responders in relation to those fires and show solidarity and sympathy to those who have lost property and have had damages enacted to their property. 'I'll certainly request a debate with the minister on that and obviously it's disappointing to see damage as well to SACs and areas of conservation.' Other gorse fires Meanwhile, emergency teams have also been tackling gorse fires in Co. Wexford over the past few days. Fire damage at Tara Hill, Gorey. Image source: Neighbouring farmer, Padraig Doyle, chair Wexford ICMSA There has been significant damage to forestry near Gorey in about three or four separate areas, according to a spokesperson for the county council. Fire crews stood down from the fire around Tara Hill about about 9:00a.m yesterday (Tuesday, May 20) with road crews also standing down. Coillte staff remained at the scene checking hotspots and managing small rekindling with beaters. A very large water tanker and a bulldozer also remained on site yesterday. The fire service in Gorey and Bunclody resumed normal operations again yesterday once the gorse fire was under control. Tara Hill, Gorey. Image source: Padraig Doyle The council has said that the attendance of Coillte and the Air Corps helicopter 'greatly helped with the incident, reaching isolated difficult to access and dangerously steep terrain'.
